Anchor plate system for reinforcing masonry walls

Abstract

A system and method of retroactively reinforcing an exterior wall. A first anchor plate is provided having a central connection point and peripheral connection points. The center connection point is connected to an anchor tether. An opening is drilled through the exterior wall and at least some joists. The anchor tether is advanced through the drilled opening. Within the drilled opening, the anchor tether anchors to at least some of the joists. The first anchor plate is attached to the anchor tether and the anchor tether is tensioned. Secondary anchor plates can be also be attached to the exterior wall at different points. Lateral tethers are provided that interconnect the first anchor plate to the secondary anchor plates. The lateral tethers extend along the surface of the exterior wall at a perpendicular to the anchor tethers.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of retroactively reinforcing a masonry wall of a building, wherein said masonry wall has an exterior surface and said building has at least one floor supported with floor joists, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a first anchor plate, having a mounting hole formed therethrough; 
 providing an anchor tether having a first end and an opposite second end; 
 drilling an opening through said masonry wall; 
 advancing said second end of said anchor tether into said building through said opening, wherein said first end of said anchor tether remains outside said opening; 
 anchoring said anchor tether to at least one of said joists; 
 advancing said first end of said anchor tether into said mounting hole of said first anchor plate and attaching said first anchor plate to said anchor tether; and 
 tensioning said anchor tether to bias said first anchor plate against said exterior surface of said masonry wall. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said mounting hole is centered in said first anchor plate. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said first anchor plate has a curvature and said tensioning said anchor tether to bias said first anchor plate against said exterior surface of said masonry wall acts to flatten said first anchor plate against said exterior surface. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 2 , further including providing at least one subsequent anchor plate and interconnecting said first anchor plate to said at least one subsequent anchor plate with lateral tethers along said exterior surface of said masonry wall. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said first anchor plate has peripheral connection points configured to interconnect with said lateral tethers, wherein said peripheral connection points are symmetrically disposed around said mounting hole. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein anchoring said anchor tether to at least one of said joists includes providing anchor mounts, positioning said anchor mounts on said anchor tether and attaching said anchor mounts to at least one of said joists. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , further including drilling subsequent holes in said joists through said opening drilled in said masonry wall. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7 , wherein advancing said second end of said anchor tether into said building through said opening includes cutting at least one access hole within said building for accessing said second end of said anchor tether within said building. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 7 , further including advancing an optical scope through said first hole to inspect said joists prior to drilling said subsequent holes. 
     
     
       10. A method of retroactively reinforcing a masonry wall of a building, wherein said masonry wall has an exterior surface and said building has at least one floor supported by floor joists, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of anchor plates, wherein each of said plurality of anchor plates has a central connection point and peripheral connection points that are symmetrically disposed around said central connection point; 
 providing a plurality of lateral tethers that are separate and distinct from each other; 
 anchoring said plurality of anchor plates to said exterior surface of said masonry wall, wherein each of said plurality of anchor plates is anchored through said central connection point; 
 interconnecting at least some of said plurality of anchor plates by attaching said lateral tethers between at least some of said plurality of anchor plates, wherein said lateral tethers attach to said peripheral connection points, and wherein said lateral tethers extend along said exterior surface of said masonry wall. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein anchoring said plurality of anchor plates to said exterior surface of said masonry wall includes drilling openings through said masonry wall and through at least some of said joists from points outside of said building. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein anchoring said plurality of anchor plates to said exterior surface of said masonry wall includes advancing anchor tethers into said building through said openings and anchoring said anchor tethers to at least some of said joists. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein anchoring said plurality of anchor plates to said exterior surface of said masonry wall includes tensioning said anchor tethers to bias said plurality of anchor plates against said exterior surface of said masonry wall. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of anchor plates each have a curvature and said tensioning said anchor tethers to bias said plurality of anchor plates against said exterior surface of said masonry wall acts to flatten said plurality of anchor plates against said exterior surface of said masonry wall. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein anchoring said anchor tethers to at least some of said joists includes providing anchor mounts, positioning said anchor mounts on said anchor tether and attaching said anchor mounts to at least one of said joists. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein drilling said openings through said exterior wall and through at least some of said joists from points outside of said building includes drilling initial holes through said exterior surface of said masonry wall and drilling subsequent holes in said joists through said initial holes. 
     
     
       17. A reinforcement anchor for retroactively reinforcing a masonry wall of a building, wherein said masonry wall has an exterior surface and said masonry wall is supported by joists, said reinforcement anchor comprising:
 an anchor plate having a central connection point and a plurality of peripheral connection points that are symmetrically disposed around said central connection point; 
 an anchor tether having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein said first end is connected to said central connection point; 
 at least one anchor mount set on said anchor tether that enables said anchor tether to mechanically engage at least some of said joists; and 
 lateral tethers connected to at least some of said peripheral connection points of said anchor plate, wherein said lateral tethers extend from said anchor plate at a perpendicular to said anchor tether so that the lateral tethers can lay flush along the exterior surface of the masonry wall. 
 
     
     
       18. The anchor according to  claim 17 , wherein said anchor tether and said lateral tethers connect to said anchor plate with threaded connections that enable said anchor tether and said lateral tethers to be selectively adjusted in tension.